New York, Jan 11, 2026, 11:50 ET — The market has closed.
- The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to take up Cisco’s appeal in a lawsuit tied to Falun Gong.
- Cisco shares closed Friday at $73.88, holding steady while the broader U.S. stock market advanced.
- Investors are focused on Cisco’s partner-program debut on Jan. 25 and the dividend payout set for Jan. 21.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear Cisco Systems’ appeal in a lawsuit accusing the tech giant of aiding China in tracking down Falun Gong practitioners. This development adds a new layer of legal uncertainty as Cisco’s shares prepare to trade next week. A Cisco spokesperson said the company is “pleased” the court will consider the case and anticipates the oral arguments ahead. 1
Cisco shares edged down 0.11% to close at $73.88 on Friday, underperforming as the S&P 500 advanced 0.65% and the Dow gained 0.48%, per MarketWatch data. Cybersecurity stocks showed a mixed bag: Fortinet climbed 1.5%, while Palo Alto Networks slipped 0.9%. 2
Why it matters now: This case arrives as investors are increasingly quick to factor in legal and geopolitical risks tied to U.S. tech exports, even when short-term numbers seem stable. The Supreme Court will decide if U.S. companies can be sued over alleged misconduct abroad under laws like the Alien Tort Statute, a human-rights law dating back to 1789. 3
Cisco’s next near-term cash event is its quarterly dividend. The company announced a payout of $0.41 per share, scheduled for Jan. 21, 2026, per its investor relations site. 4
Cisco’s channel is set for a reset with the launch of its new Cisco 360 Partner Program on Jan. 25. This will replace the existing partner program, the company announced. 5
Some Cisco routers went offline Thursday following a Cloudflare tweak to DNS record ordering, which was quickly undone, Network World reported. Robert Kramer, VP and principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, told the outlet, “The deeper takeaway is how fragile some of the layers of the stack still are.” 6
Cisco heads into the new week as investors digest its AI networking strategy alongside a solid, established core business. The company boosted its full-year outlook in November, driven by strong demand for networking gear linked to data-center expansions. CEO Chuck Robbins projects $3 billion in AI infrastructure revenue from hyperscalers by fiscal 2026. Direxion’s Ryan Lee commented that Cisco “appears poised to capture its fair share” of AI spending. 7
Monday’s open hinges largely on whether the Supreme Court review shifts the risk calculus tied to Cisco’s China exposure and headline sensitivity, rather than on new guidance.
That the court has agreed to hear the case doesn’t signal a clear outcome, and legal proceedings can drag on, causing the stock to fluctuate based on daily order updates and shifts in sector sentiment. Any missteps — whether partner changes or product glitches — could hit a company whose bullish narrative depends largely on steady cash flow and a slow ramp-up in AI-driven networking demand.
Next up, investors will watch for any early signals from Monday’s session on the legal front. Then, all eyes shift to Cisco’s Jan. 21 dividend payout and the Jan. 25 rollout of its new partner program. These events will offer clues on whether the company’s channel and customer strategy stays intact heading into February.
